Abstract: Coal mines not only need safety signs in the laws and regulations, but also need to set some auxiliary nonstandard signs according to specific conditions. We study the design basis and draw the conclusion that laws and regulations, hazard analysis, "three violations" data, accident analysis, and visual management can be used as coal mine safety signs design basis. Safety-related laws and regulations is the design basis of mine safety signs. Hidden danger analysis of coal mine site, the analysis of workers "three violations" statistical data, statistics and analysis of the accidents provide the spot design basis for the coal mine safety signs. Visual management theory provides a theory and spot design basis of the safety signs. Finally, the safety signs design in abroad and other industries is used as supplementary design basis of the safety signs.